Governor Babatunde Fashola
| credits: File copy
| credits: File copy
Lagos
State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has condemned the plan by the
Federal Government to increase duties on imported vehicles by 35 per
cent, saying there is no justification for such increment.
Fashola said the increase would stifle transport operations in the country.
He spoke on Thursday during a meeting with taxi and cab operators in the state at Agidingbin, Ikeja.
At the meeting, which was attended by
taxi operators across the state, Fashola lamented that the decision of
the Federal Government to impose 35 per cent tariff on imported vehicles
was unacceptable because of its negative impact on transport operators.
The governor said the decision of the
Federal Government, under the administration of President Goodluck
Jonathan, would hinder transport operators from acquiring new vehicles,
which he said, could improve their services to residents.
He added that the Federal Government
might appear to have dropped the idea, but “It only left the idea
because elections are drawing closer. It will implement it if the
President is re-elected.”
The governor urged the taxi operators to
support the APC presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the
APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and all candidates of
the APC.
“We must send this administration away.
When the APC takes over the government at the centre, things will change
positively,” he said.
The governor at the event approved a
12-year time limit for vehicles the taxi operators wanted to purchase
for the purpose of commercial transport under the new public transport
management system.
He said, “The time limit is pegged at
five years at the inception. But with the devaluation of naira and
declining purchasing power, it becomes necessary to review the time line
from five years to 12 years due to the sharp rise in the cost of
vehicles. This is the implication of worsening exchange rate.”
Fashola asked the taxi operators to
observe traffic regulations and obtain road worthiness certification, a
violation of which would compel officials of the Vehicle Inspection
Office and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to enforce the
traffic law against them.
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